The Constitution of the Polish Association Studies

Revised and Amended June 2012
Revised and Amended April 2024

ARTICLE I. NAME. This organization shall be called the Polish Studies Association, or
PSA. In Polish it shall be called Towarzystwo Studiów Polskich.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Association is to promote Polish studies
internationally.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERS. Membership in the Association shall be open to all persons
professionally engaged in the field of Polish studies, including college and university
students and faculty as well as independent scholars, publishers, librarians, archivists,
and journalists who specialize in the history, culture, art, politics, economics, and society of
Poland. Members who have paid their annual dues have the right to vote and hold office
in the Association and shall qualify for grants awarded by the Association. Dues shall be
set by the Executive Board. Membership shall be renewed each January.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS. The elected officers of the Association shall be a President or
two Co-Presidents as well as a four-member Executive Board. If an Executive Board
member is elected to the Presidency, they shall step down from the Executive Board.
One spot on the Executive Board shall be reserved for a graduate student. In the event
that the graduate student member is no longer a graduate student, they shall complete
their term on the Executive Board. When elections are held, an available vacancy on the
Executive Board shall then be filled with a new graduate student representative. Officers
shall serve a term of three years. No officer shall serve more than two consecutive
terms. A vacancy in any of these offices occurring at any time may be filled until the
next elections by an appointee of the Executive Board, at its discretion.

a. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board meets regularly to discuss matters pertaining to the
Association, such as the planning of activities or the implementation of initiatives
that support the purpose of the Association. The Executive Board makes interim
appointments to vacant positions in the Association until elections are held. The
Executive Board confirms the elected President or Co-Presidents, and it
approves appointments made by the President or Co-Presidents. The Executive
Board shall set the membership dues and must approve all expenses over
$100.The Executive Board may add additional members to serve in an advisory
role as members of the various committees. Committee members may attend
meetings on the invitation of the President or Co-Presidents.

b. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRESIDENT OR CO-PRESIDENTS
The President or Co-Presidents work with the Executive Board to advance the
goals of the Association. They are responsible for issuing a call for nominations
and self-nominations for the elections, and for preparing the ballot. They shall
form committees for prize contests, invite members to serve on committees or
subcommittees, oversee the Association’s finances, and monitor the
Association’s website or designate someone for that role. The President or Co-
Presidents shall hold an annual board meeting at which they present a report on
the activities and the finances of the PSA to the Membership. After the meeting
they shall distribute the report together with the meeting minutes to the
Membership by e-mail. After the end of the term, the President or Co-Presidents
serve(s) as advisor to the incoming president or Co-Presidents for the duration of
one year.

ARTICLE V. ELECTIONS. Elections to the Presidency and elections to the Executive
Board shall be held when there is an opening.
a. Elections shall be held no later than May 31 and shall be conducted by on-line
balloting.
b. The vote shall remain open for seven days.
c. Members who have paid their annual dues are eligible to vote and run for office
in these elections. The President or Co-Presidents are responsible for issuing a
call for nominations and self-nominations, and for preparing the ballot.
d. The Presidency may be held by one individual or by two individuals who serve as
Co-Presidents. Candidates for a Co-Presidency must run in the election on a
shared ticket.
If a member of the Executive Board is elected to the Presidency, they shall step
down from the Executive Board. Until elections are held, the vacancy on the
Executive Board shall be filled by an appointee of the Executive Board, at its
discretion.

ARTICLE VI. COMMUNICATIONS AND MEETINGS. The President or Co-Presidents
shall maintain a moderated e-mail list for purposes of discussion and announcements.

ARTICLE VII. FINANCES. The President or Co-Presidents, or a person appointed by
them and approved by the Executive Board, shall maintain a bank account in the name
of the Association, and be responsible for collecting and disbursing funds. The
Executive Board must approve all expenses over $100.

ARTICLE VIII. REPORTING. The President or Co-Presidents shall prepare an annual
report on the activities and the finances of the PSA. The report shall be presented at the
annual PSA board meeting, and together with the minutes from the meeting it shall be
distributed to all PSA members via e-mail after the meeting. An activities report shall be
distributed via H-Poland.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS. Any member of the Association may propose an
amendment to this constitution. Once such an amendment is proposed, it shall be put to
an on-line vote within a period of not more than one month. Members who have paid
their annual dues are eligible to vote on amendments. The vote shall remain open for
seven days. Amendments are accepted if a majority of the votes is in favor of the
amendment.